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(Nof'Model.)

W. P. TRACY.

RAILWAY GAB. STEP.

Patented Mar. 6, 1888.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

'WILLIAM P. rIlltACY, OF GRAND RAPIDS, MICHIGAN, ASSIGNOR OF TWO- THIRDSTO WILLIAM R. SHELBY AND ABE M. AMBERG, OF SAME PLACE.

RAI LWAY-CAR STEP.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 379,140l dated March 6,1888.

Application tiled October 18, 1887.

To @ZZ whom it may concern:

-Be it known that I, WILLIAM P. TRACY, of Grand Rapids, in the county ofKent and State of Michigan, have invented a new and useful Improvementin Railway-Car Steps; and'I do hereby declare that the following is afull, clear, and exact description of the same.

My invention relates to railway-cars, and particularly to the stepsthereof. Its object rc is to provide an extensible step in addition tothe three steps in ordinary use, the fourth step being adapted to beheld up against the bottom of the rigid steps during the time the trainis in transit and to be lowered to form a fourth r 5 step when the traincomes to a stop at a station. Such a step is very desirable, as it iswell known that in order to clear any obstructions (which may be foundupon all railroads) the car-steps are located at a considerable distancefrom the ground, and it is found necessary to either have the cars runalongside ofthe platformsome distance above the ground, in order to comewithin a reasonable distance of the lower step of the car, or else,where the cars come in upon the same level as the platform, to provide aportable box Vwhich serves as an additional step.

My invention consists of an extensible step secured beneath the xedsteps of the car and 3o adapted to be moved into position positively inadvance of the bottom of the Iixed series to form afourth step and to bereturned automatically by releasing the .devices controlling its'movement.

The invention further consists in the details of construction, all ashereinafter fully set forth.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure l is a rear perspective View of thesteps and a por- 4o tion ofthe platform, representing the step asextended. Fig. 2 represents a sectional view through the steps.

In t-he drawings, A represents the platform of the car, and B the stepsleading therefrom,

this being of ordinary construction. The extensible step is supported onan angular extended end of a frame, C. The body of this frame iscomposed of angular metal, which provides upon either side a fiange, a,and these 5o flanges are tted to guiding-lugs which are se- Serial No.252.671.

(No model.)

cured to the inner surfaces of the side pieces ofthe steps. Theseguiding projections have flanges which embracethe dauges of the frame.This frame is adapted to slide in the guiding projections for limitingthe movement therein, and in its lowest position the step is below andin advance of the last fixed step of the series. The frameis arranged toslide approximately parallel to the line of the fixed steps and isstrongly supported by means of the guiding projections from the side, aweight upon the step tending to bind the frame in the embrace ofthe saidprojections. Pins or suitable stops may be provided at the upper part ofthe frame, as shown at b, to limit its down- Ward movement.

In its normal position the extensible step is beneath and in closecontact with the under step of the fixed series, and is held so with theframe in its upper position by means of a tensional spring or springscoiled about a rod, f, extending across beneath the second step, thesaid rod being in connection with the frame by means of a slotted arm orarms, c. Ears d project from the center of the cross-bar e of 75 theframe, and between these ears the slotted portions of the arm c tit,being held in place by means of the pins passing through the ears andthe slot'of the arm. The rod fis supported in the side pieces of thestep by means of a bracket in the center toward the two pieces. A coiledspring surrounds the rod at each end, one end of the spring beingfastened to the Linder end of the step and the other end to a collarfixed to the rod, so that in the lowest position of the frame and stepsecured thereto these springs are under tension. Upon the outer end ofthis rod is secured atoothed segment, F, and in connection with thissegmentis a verticallyarranged rackbar, G, having a guide, as shown atg, at its lower end, with its upper end terminating in a'handle locatedat the sides of the steps directly beneath the ordinary iron railingfound at the end of cars. In order to extend the step, this handle ismoved vertically, which moves the segment in gear with the teeththereof, and this operation turns the rod f and moves the frame to itslowest position to extend the step through the arm c, connected roorigidly to the said rod. A spring-catch, lz, engages with a notch intheoperati ng-rod and holds the step in its extended position. By releasingthe operati ng-lever from this springeatch the springs upon the rod cexert their force and through the iixed arm retract the frame, whichdraws the step snugly beneath the bottom step of the iiXed series. Inorder to take up the shock bythe action of the springs in retracting thefraaie, I provide a suitable buffer beneath the second step, againstwhich the frame strikes in its upward movement.

I do uotlimit myself to the precise operating devices shown, as thesemay be varied without departing from the spirit of my invention.

Neither do 1 limit myself to the arrangement of parts, as, instead othaving the step extending by positive means and closing automatically,the parts may be reversed and the steps opened automatically and closedpositively, though I prefer the arrangement above de scribed. I mayemploy two arms c instead of the one shown, and position them at eitherend of the cross-bar e.

I claim as my inventionl. In a railwaycar, an extensible step attachedto asliding frame, positively-operating devices for lowering the step,and automatically-operating devices for raising it, substantially asdescribed.

2. In a railway-car, a sliding frame having a step attached thereto,said frame and step being normally in a raised position underspring-tension, an operating-lever for positively loweringr said step, ashaft for receiving the action of the operating-lever, and intermediateconnections between said shaft and frame, substantially as described.

3. In combination with a car and with the steps thereof, an extensiblestep supported by a sliding frame, a rod under tension adapted to holdsaid frame normally in one position, a segment upon the end oi said rod,and a rackbar terminating in a handle for operating said bar against thetension of its spring or springs for changing theposition ofthe step,substantially as described.

4. The combination,with the steps ofa ear, of an extensible stepsupported by a frame sliding in curved ways, a slotted arm connected tothe upper part of the said arm and in connection with the rod held underspring tension, a segment secured to said rod, and a rack-barterminating in a handle for operating said segment to movethe bar andframe against the tension of the spring, substantially as described.

The combinatiolnwith the steps of a railway-car, of a sliding framemoving in guides in line with the line of the steps, a step securedtothe ends of said frame with spring devices for holding said stepagainst the bottom of the lower of the fixed steps normally, and withpositively-operating devices for extending the step beneath the planeand in advance of the fixed step of the series, substantially asdescribed.

6. In a railway-car, a sliding frame, a step secured to the ends of saidframe, a slotted arm in connection with the upper part of the frame formoving the same,a bar under springtension secured to said arm, a segmentconnected to said bar, a rack-bar terminating in a handle for operatingsaid segment, and the spring-latch for holding said handle in anelevated position, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have signed my naine to this specification in thepresence of two slibscribing witnesses.

VILLIAM I. TRACY.

W'itnesses:

G. A. WOLF, A. M. AMBERG.

